Ait Benhaddou

Jeep & 4WD Tours

Benefit from pick-up at your accommodation in Marrakech, and then journey to the ancient settlement of Ait Benhaddou via the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains. Upon arrival, discover the center of Morocco's movie industry and see where films such as "Gladiator" and "Lawrence of Arabia" were shot. Get a wonderful view of the entire valley from the top of a hill, and admire the typical clay architecture of the historic settlement. Get 2 hours to explore the village and enjoy a meal on a terrace with clear views of the Kasbah. Continue to telouete and pass from the ounilla paradis valley. Return to Marrakech and get dropped off at your accommodation on arrival.

Begin your full-day tour of the incredible Moroccan landscape with a drive from Marrakech through the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass. Visit a cooperative run by women in the Atlas Mountains, where the famous argan oil is produced by hand and organic delicacies and beauty products are sold.  Just before Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, enjoy the unique chance to visit the Aït-Ben-Haddou Kasbah. This ancient town is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but often a location used in Hollywood films and television series, such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia and Game of Thrones. Enjoy a 1-hour tour with a local guide and discover what makes this little town so unique. After lunch in a local restaurant with a panoramic terrace in the newer part of Aït-Ben-Haddou, continue to Ouarzazate and enjoy the choice of visiting either the venerable Kasbah Taourirt and the Old City or the Film Museum on the other side of the street. Stop for a coffee or tea over the High Atlas and return to Marrakech.

Departing early in the morning from your accommodation in Marrakech, you will drive towards Ouarzazate through the High Atlas before reaching the Tizi N'Tichka pass. Sitting 2,260 meters high, this is the highest road crossing in Morocco. It connects the Marrakech Saharan regions, of which Ouarzazate is the crossroad. You will then stop for a visit to the famous fortified city of Ait Ben Haddou. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its Kasbah has been the backdrop for many films including the Diamond of the Nile, Lawrence of Arabia, Sodom and Gomorre, the Jewel of the Nile, Jesus of Nazareth, the Mummy, Gladiator and Babel. After this visit of the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, you will continue to the city of Ouarzazate to explore another Kasbah built in the 17th century. Here you will visit the cinema studios, before stopping for lunch in a local restaurant. Following lunch, you can enjoy free time to enjoy a mint tea and enjoy the green valley and beautiful views of the High Atlas peaks. In this area, between the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, one can find several Kasbahs, all the color of the sand and forming small Berber villages that take advantage of the abundance of water from the Atlas to its small crops and animals. At the end of the day, you will be returned to your accommodation in Marrakech.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Marrakech for a 3-day desert safari in the High Atlas Mountains and Dades Valley. Ride camels across the sand dunes, spend the night camping under a desert sky, marvel at the Saghro Mountains, and enjoy a traditional Moroccan tagine dinner. Visit the legendary Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, and more. Day 1: Following a pick-up from your riad or hotel in Marrakech drive over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’ Tichka Pass. Stop for impressive views of the valleys and snow-capped mountains, and break for coffee and freshly-squeezed orange juice, before spending the afternoon at Ait Ben Haddou. Explore the village of clustered kasbahs, which have been used as a backdrop for more than 20 films. It was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road, where the caravans brought slaves, gold, ivory, and salt from Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond. Pass through Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Rose, famous for its soft Persian rose oil. Continue to the Dades Valley, passing Berber villages. Then, marvel at the barren red rock formations and clustered kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house many families and their livestock). Stay in a small country inn (auberge) in the Dades Valley, enjoying a Moroccan dinner on a terrace that overlooks the valley gorge and gardens. Day 2: After breakfast, travel through the Saghro Mountains, stopping in Rissani for lunch. Continue to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure at an auberge 29 kilometers from Merzouga. Here, you will be met by a guide for a ride into the dunes on the back of a camel. Go to the bivouac (camp) for a traditional tagine dinner (vegetarians welcome) under the evening stars. Climb the dunes and watch the moon rise, before retiring to your bed in the nomad wool tent. There’s also the option of a sunset camel trek into the dunes (extra cost), and a stay in the auberge with dinner and breakfast included. Day 3: Return to the auberge by camel at sunrise, and enjoy a breakfast and shower before going to Tinerhir. Along the way, drive offroad through exposed rock slabs of fossils. Visit a fossil workshop for a closer look at the Sahara’s varieties of ancient life. Admire the sheer, limestone walls of the Todra Gorge. Then wander through the palmeries, gardens and kasbahs for a closer look at the traditional Berber way of life. Visit the market in Tinehir and the old kasbah. Enjoy a Moroccan dinner by a pool in the old kasbah.

Immerse yourself in the incredible Moroccan landscape on a private full-day tour to Aït-Ben-Haddou and Telouet. Ride from Marrakech over the Tizi-N-Tichka-Pass and get a glimpse of the way people have traditionally lived in the area with a bit of roadside chat. Visit a cooperative run by women in the Atlas Mountains, where the famous argan oil is produced by hand and organic delicacies and beauty products are sold.  Just before Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, enjoy the unique chance to visit the Aït-Ben-Haddou Kasbah. This little old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is perpetually used as a location for Hollywood films. Follow your guide on a 1-hour walking tour and hear about traditional life there. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant with a panoramic terrace in a newer part of Aït-Ben-Haddou and continue through the breathtaking landscape to Telouet. This fortress was occupied by Thami el Glaoui before he was expelled by independence efforts. One section has unfortunately disintegrated into red sand, but you can still visit the beautiful rooms with mosaic tiles and wood carvings. Cross the High Atlas mountains for a tea and coffee break and return to your accommodation in Marrakech around 19:00.

After meeting you in your hotel or riad you will start the day's excursions towards ait ben haddou and ouarzazate, passing completely through the chain of the High Atlas by the route of Tizi n'Tichka. Admire the mountains of the beautiful traditional Berber villages. You will notice the difference between the two sides of the chain: the north maintains a clear Mediterranean character, while the south is much more arid and Saharan. This is marked in the vegetation, but also in the mode of construction of traditional housing that takes into account climatic conditions very different. You will visit the High light of the area including the famous Kasbah, declared a UNESCO world heritage site and which was the scene of films like "The Gladiator", "Babel" and "Lawrence of Arabia". Atlas Studios movie studios, is one of the largest and most famous of all Africa. In the afternoon you will drive back to Marrakech for the End of the tour.

You’ll be picked up in Marrakech from where you'll head out in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle on a drive across the largest mountains in North Africa. En route you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the High Atlas Mountains and fertile valleys. This 10-hour trip is priced for a group of up to 4 persons. See the salt mines in the Ounila Valley, the Pacha Glaoui Kasbah, and Telouet. Visit the Ksar (Castle) of Ait-Ben-Haddou, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The village of Ait-Ben-Haddou is situated on a hill in the Souss Massa Draa region, along the Ouarzazate River. It was an important stop for traders carrying gold, salt, and slaves along the main caravan route through the Sahara. Both Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazareth were filmed here. The entire lower part of the village was rebuilt, and in recent years, more controlled restoration was carried out under the watchful eye of UNESCO. Lunch will be in a local restaurant in Ait-Ben-Haddou, where you’ll enjoy your meal with panoramic views of the Kasbah. You'll then return to Marrakech via the Tizi n’Tichka pass.

Explore Erg Lihoudi Mhamid Desert's beautiful sand dunes, experience the sunset on camelback, visit Ouarzazate, Draa Valley, and Zagora, and visit ancient fortified villages. Spend the evening under the stars in a comfortable tent and enjoy a traditional meal by the campfire. Day 1:Meet your guide outside your Marrakech accommodation. Cross over the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi-N-Tichka, stopping to take in the breathtaking views. Enjoy a delicious lunch in Ouarzazate, and continue south to the Low Atlas Mountains. Marvel at the stunning canyons and snap photos of the looming mountains. Drive through the Draa Valley and see a Palm grove, an iconic oasis, and ancient Kasbahs. Arrive at Erg Lihoudi Dunes in time for a sunset camel ride, followed by a traditional dinner served by a campfire. Enjoy a blissful night's sleep under the stars in a tent. Day 2:Reach the top of the dunes just in time to see the beautiful desert sunrise. Enjoy a quick breakfast at the camp, and drive to the fortified village Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. After a wonderful lunch, head to Kasbah Telouet through the fascinating Ouinila Valley, with its contrasting rocky canyons and lush fields. Return to your Marrakech accommodation through the stunning High Atlas Mountains.

Take a breathtaking drive through the High Atlas Mountains before diving into the history of Morocco in Ait Benhaddou on this sightseeing day trip from Marrakesh. You'll begin the tour with stunning views while crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass on your way to Telouet; a village on the caravan route from the Sahara to Marrakech. Visit one of the most spectacular kasbahs in Morocco. Next, you'll arrive at Ait Benhaddou, where you can explore the historic Ksar with a guide and learn more about this striking example of southern Moroccan architecture. Walk up to the high point for some spectacular views.